By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Attorney Patricia Nemeth established her law firm 25 years ago to fill a void—the type of firm she was looking for didn’t exist, or she couldn’t find it.
“I wanted to work in a firm that put the clients’ interests first, where the attorneys were collaborative instead of competitive, where there was flexibility in work hours, and a place where I felt I could reach my full potential and help others do the same,” she says.
Clearly Nemeth Law fit the bill—and has thrived, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Nemeth has seen many changes over that quarter century.
“Technological changes in the last 25 years have impacted how the firm operates as well as how cases are litigated,” she says.
The firm now needs less secretarial assistance but more assistance from paralegals and computer-savvy employees; attorneys compose at computers, opting for e-mails instead of formal letters; and often nix office phones in favor of talking or texting with clients on cellphones.
Attorneys draft their own motions, briefs, and memos, leaving secretaries to make final changes and format for filing. Attorneys conduct electronic legal research and other types of digital research relating to courts, judges, participants in cases, and more; and may file their own motions, briefs and exhibits electronically.
“For some attorneys, some of these skills don’t come naturally,” she says. “Ethically, attorneys are required to keep up with technological changes and have a level of competence to understand the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology.”
Computerized legal research has leveled the playing field making it easier for firms to compete; and the advent of the ‘cloud,’ makes data storage less costly.
“The advent of technology has also given birth to this phenomenon called social media requiring that our firm, like other firms, understands how to use social media to communicate with clients and reach out to potential clients. This has led to becoming familiar with LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, writing blogs and recording vlogs,” Nemeth says. “Keeping pace in this ever-changing landscape isn’t easy but is necessary.”
When it comes to litigating cases, people type instead of talk, she adds. “They text, they i-message, they e-mail, they message each other on LinkedIn—and all of that data could become discoverable,” she explains. “It’s important to understand where the data is and how to obtain it.
“Due to electronic discovery, some cases can involve hundreds of thousands of documents. It’s important to understand how to manage those voluminous documents and, when appropriate, challenge the production of the documents to the opposing party”.
The advent of Google and Facebook,—and iPads and smartphones—changed the landscape.
“Many court records we can now access with clicks once required driving to the courthouse and waiting—sometimes only to be told we had to order the records and would need to return in two weeks.
Legislative history for various statutes meant a drive to Lansing,” Nemeth says.“ I do kind of miss those old musty books, getting lost in the stacks and finding that gem that no one else found because they didn’t take the time to drive to Lansing.”
The ease with which information about litigants, witnesses, and courts can be accessed, and how legal research is conducted today, could not have been imagined 25 years ago, she notes.
“There was a time we were office bound and it really wasn’t so long ago,” she says. “Now, we take documents with us. We have remote access. We can receive, act upon, and send legal work on the go. We can send documents and questions to attorneys at our office who can work on an issue while we are at a clients or in the court. We can work at lunch, at home, at the beach, in a hot tub. We’re always accessible—and everyone knows it.
“All this accessibility does result in greater efficiency, lower costs and better client service. But it’s also important for attorneys to create some downtime because now more than ever, they are on call 24/7.”
Mediation also has made a huge difference in how cases have been handled in the last 25 years, , as has arbitration, as a way to resolve disputes.
“Becoming a mediator has helped me tremendously in my litigation practice,” she says.
Nemeth says future goals remain unchanged from the 25-year historical goals of putting clients first and providing excellent legal service.
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